Student moving to Santa Monica for college needs help! (Los Angeles: apartments, rentals)

[xitskaibabyyy]

Hello everyone! I am currently in Las Vegas, NV and looking into moving to Los Angeles this upcoming August to go to Santa Monica College. I've been looking around for the past couple of months and I know that it is very expensive there. I've been considering Westwood and Culver City since its somewhat cheaper. Just wanted to ask a couple of questions:
- What places around Santa Monica are somewhat affordable for a student in college?
-Are there places that have a number of SMC students that rent there?
- How do I look for a job? I heard its hard to look for a job in LA and I want to make sure that I have a job before I move there in August (if not, then within two months of moving there).
- Other than Craigslist, is there any other way I can find good listings of apartments in LA?

I am moving with a friend and will be sharing the apartment together. We hope for 2 rooms if its affordable but I don't think that's going to happen. If anything, we want a one bedroom apartment. Maybe even a studio.

We don't want to pay more than $800 each ($1600 a month). We'll have cars so commuting won't be too much of a hassle (I just don't want to live too far from Santa Monica to have to drive for over 45 minutes. That's horrible.).


Anything is helpful.

[Bruin5]

As far as finding really affordable places in or near Santa Monica, most people resort to renting places out in Palms, which isn't that far. I've chanced upon some listings via westsiderentals in Culver City and Mar Vista that were offering 2 bedroom rentals for around 1500-1600. Cheap housing in Santa Monica will be hard to find, though I do have friends that have found cheap places. One has the honor of living in a two bedroom rent controlled apt., the other found an old unit with an old landlord who was charging 1970s prices- very rare, but possible to find on the Westside.

[xitskaibabyyy]

That sounds like good deal. But how is it living there? Environment wise?

In Vegas, there really is no "real" ghetto. I live on the nicer side of Vegas too. I can walk outside right now and I wouldn't worry about getting killed or anything. I know LA is different than Vegas and I'll have to adjust.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by xitskaibabyyy

Hello everyone! I am currently in Las Vegas, NV and looking into moving to Los Angeles....and I know that it is very expensive there.

Make sure you factor into your living expenses the amount you would need to pay in nonresident fees (at least the first year) to attend Santa Monica College: Residency Information